Some 400 people signed up and attended a conference yesterday at Simmons College sponsored by Mass. Peace Action, American Friends Service Committee and Progressive Democrats of America about "The Next Four Years". It would be safe to say that when we started planning this conference we did not expect the outcome that we got on November 9th. And with the unexpected and scary results of the election the conference took on a new urgency and I believe that accounted for the extra interest. We turned many people away and had a wait list at the door.Attendees told me the speakers were good, articulate and inspiring. The theme of the message is that we have our work cut out for us with the new President-elect and we can accomplish more by working together.

The groups who came together for this conference addressed issues of racial and social justice, economic justice, immigration policy, climate , anti-war, electoral organizing, moral public policies, fair housing, and nuclear abolition.

Members from MWPA who attended include Martha Guevarra, Jan Leary, Janet Jakubowski and Faith Madzar. I look forward to hearing their comments on the conference. I was encouraged by the outpouring of interest and by the number of new people who are activated by the election. One lady said she was busy enjoying a peaceful happy retirement until November 8th. It will be good if all of the issue groups can keep up their work and somehow support each other too.

As peace activists we know it is often difficult to get labor to oppose the military industrial complex because so many of them are reliant on defense contractors for their livelihood. If we can agree that military or economic domination is not the way to peace and prosperity then we can unite these groups in ending war as a way to resolve conflicts. Changing our foreign policy can positively affect the immigration and refugee problems the world is dealing with now.

And certainly if we are not spending half of our discretionary spending on war and destruction, we can surely invest in peace and rebuilding our communities.

How long does it usually take to write? Why do you write…? I’m so confused nowadays. So I’m writing to you because I need your advise. I don’t have any visitors. But I don’t be discouraged by it and keep trying harder!!! 🙂